EP Ablation

Information about AF/VT Ablation

Catheter ablations are done by a specialist cardiology elctrophysiologist, to cure irregular/abnormal heartbeats, better known as arrhythmias.

The procedure is less invasive than surgery and is used to treat/cure Atrial Fibrillation (AF)/Atrial Flutter, as well as a number of other arrythmias such as Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) or Supraventricular Tachycardias (SVT’s) and Atrioventricular Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardias (AVNRT) such as Wolf Parkinson White. Other indications for catheter ablation include:

Procedure

An ablation normally follows an Electrophysiology Study (EP Study) and both are often done at the same time. An ablation is commonly performed under local anaesthetic with the patient awake but a sedative can be given. You are required to lie flat on your back, sometimes for up to several hours. The physician will pass flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels in the groin or around the neck. These are threaded up to the heart under direct vision using an X-ray camera. During the course of treatment, the emphasis is to destroy those areas of heart that are producing the abnormal electrical signals causing the arrythmias.

Small punctures are made in the groin, neck or arm area, under local anaesthetic, to insert catheters that are threaded to heart.

Risks Involved

The procedure is normally straight forward but as with ay invasive procedure, it carries risks. Risks quoted are between 1-3%. The most common complications as minor bleeding & bruising when the sheaths (plastic tubes) are removed from the veins at the end of the procedure.

Please call 01283 755556 or enter your details below & a brief summary of the problem & convenient days & times for you to see Dr Gill privately. Patients can be seen in The Burton Clinic, Nuffield Hospital Derby & Spire Hospitals in Little Aston and Solihull.

Dr Gill is a ‘fee-assured’ consultant cardiologist who works with all main private medical insurers. His fees are within limits set by insurance companies. He works out of both private and NHS hospitals in Derby, Burton and Solihull.

A new consultation with a private ECG is only £220 whilst a follow-up consultation is only £180.

Self-funding patients do not need to be referred by their GP for private heart tests or consultations. You can arrange an appointment directly for a private heart check. Payments accepted via cash, cheque, credit card or debit card.